Celebs who were inappropriately touched by fans

In Bollywood, where fans often idolise their favorite stars, the boundary between admiration and intrusion can sometimes blur. While the limelight brings fame and adoration, it can also cast shadows of discomfort and violation. In this feature we delve into the unsettling experiences of Bollywood celebrities who have faced inappropriate advances from fans, revealing the darker side of stardom.

From Hema Malini, Sara Ali Khan, to Sushmita Sen, we shed light on the challenges these stars faced in public spaces with their fans and the manner in which they handled the situation.

At a Mumbai event on August 21, veteran actress and BJP MP Hema Malini was the centre of attention when a fan’s attempt to pose with her went awry. In a viral Instagram video, Hema, alongside Anup Jalota and others, is seen clearly uncomfortable when a woman tries to place her hand on her shoulder. Hema promptly gestures for the woman to step back, and a man intervenes to maintain the space. The incident highlights the actress’s desire for personal space despite the public’s eagerness to engage.

Sara Ali Khan was photographed at Mumbai airport in a white salwar suit, surrounded by fans eager for selfies and handshakes. Among them, one woman’s gesture caught attention as she touched Sara inappropriately, momentarily leaving the actress visibly shocked. The incident sparked significant discussion on social media.

In a conversation with Hauterrfly, Lara Dutta shared a startling memory from a music release event for Andaaz in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. As she, Priyanka Chopra, and Akshay Kumar arrived, a man from the crowd pinched her waist. Lara swiftly grabbed his hand, pulled him from the crowd, and began to confront him.

A few years ago, Sushmita Sen shared an unsettling encounter during a media interaction involving a 15-year-old boy who attempted to touch her inappropriately. Amidst a crowd of men, the boy mistakenly thought he could act unnoticed. However, when Sushmita confronted him, she was taken aback to find he was just a young teenager. Instead of taking severe action, she chose a different approach. She firmly addressed him and the boy promised her to never do it again.

In 2010, at a showroom inauguration in Hyderabad, Genelia D’Souza faced unwanted harassment from a fan despite the presence of bouncers and police. The man attempted to touch her inappropriately, prompting Genelia to take decisive action by slapping him to make her stance clear.